Girdle applying device



Oct. 4, 1949. i 1-; w, SHAFFER 2,483,714 7 GIRDLE APPLYING DEVICE Filed March 31. 1947 INVENTOR. v

I BY Q ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct." 4, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Grants APPLYING nnvrcu Edward w. Shaffer, Wichita, Kans. Application March 31, 1947, Serial No. 738,416

3 Claims. (01. 223-111) This invention relates to a device adaptable for use in aiding the positioning of girdles or the like upon the body of the wearer thereof and has for its primary object the provision of such an instrument that is inexpensive to manufacture, easy to use and simple, yet highly efficient in operation. It is common knowledge particularly to those who wear girdles or other abdominal supports, that one of the most harassing problems is that of applying a relatively tight fitting garment of such character, principally because of the friction present between the wearers body and the girdle. This difliculty of moving the girdle to the operative position is enhanced not only because of the material from which such supporting garments are made, which is highly frictional in itself, but because of the excess flesh on the hips of the wearer, which tends to fold and overlap as the girdle is slipped into position. These difficulties are not only exasperating but are oftentimes injurious to the wearer, as well as damaging to the girdle itself by tearing, necessitating expensive replacement from time to time.

It is the most important object of this invention, therefore, to provide a device usable to facilitate slipping the girdle into place, which device is in the nature of an elongated member formed both longitudinally and transversely to conform to the hips of the wearer, to the end that the same may be inserted between the wearers body and the girdle as the latter is manipulated, thereby presenting a smooth surface upon which the girdle may slide.

Other objects of this invention include the manner in which the aforesaid longitudinally and transversely arched portions of the member merge into a relatively fiat area at each end of the member, all to the end that the same conforms to the contour of the hips and waist of the wearer; the way in which an opening isformed therein to present a hand grip and the way in which the longitudinal edges of the member converge as one end thereof is approached, to the end that the same may be easily inserted between the wearers body and the girdle when the latter is partially moved into its operative position.

In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a pair of girdle applying devices made in accordance with my present invention and showing the same in operative position upon the body of a wearer thereof.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken on line IIII]I of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view, taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 2.

It is contemplated that a pair of devices about to be described be used when a girdle I0 is being positioned upon the body l2 of the wearer of the garmentll'l. These devices are identical in character and, therefore, only one will be described, said device being broadly designated by the numeral M. The device I4 comprises an elongated member molded or otherwise formed from an initially flat sheet of material. Such material for forming the member 14 is preferably plastic but may be formed from any substance that is relatively light, durable and has smooth slick surfaces. Furthermore, such material should be substantially stiff in order to accomplish the purposes hereinafter more fully set down.

Figs. 1 and 4 illustrate the way in which member M is curved or transversely arched as at Hi. The numeral l8 indicates also the way in which member I4 is longitudinally arched. These transversely and longitudinally arched portions l6 and I8 of member l4 merge into a pair of relatively fiat areas 20 and 22 at each end of the member l4. When so formed this member la conforms to the contour of hips 24 of the wearers body l2, the waist 26 and that portion of body l2 between hips 24 and legs 28. Fig. 2 illustrates the manner in which the longitudinal edges 30 of the member l4 converge as fiat portion 22 thereof is approached to the end that this member I 4 may be easily inserted between the wearers body l2 and the girdle II], when the same is to be placed in use. The relatively flat area 20 adjacent the opposite end of member l4, has an opening 32 formed therein to present a hand grip whereby member It may be easily manipulated.

In operation the girdle I0 is moved into position circumscribing the legs 28 of the wearer and slipped upwardly to a point where the two members l4 may be slipped between girdle l0 and the body I2. The narrow flat ends 22 of member M will facilitate such placement of the members ll, whereupon the girdle ll] may be easily slipped upwardly along the outermost smooth surfaces of the two members [I to a position illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing. After the girdle III has been moved to this position, the uppermost portion of the girdle, which is in overlapping relationship to the lower portion thereof, may be easily unfolded and moved upwardly and into circumscribing relationship with body I2 and the two members l4. when girdle I0 is in the full body encircling position, the members It may be easily slipped outwardly by the operator grasping mean;

the hand grips 32 and sliding the members ll upwardly to a free position.

It isnotable that during the above girdle applying steps, the members I present a smooth sliding surface for the girdle III by holding the adjacent surfaces of the wearer's body I: inwardly and covering all over-lapping layers of flesh, thereby eliminating any friction that would otherwise hinder placement of the garment l0 parting from the spirit of this invention or scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A girdle applying device of the character described comprising an elongated member adapted for insertion between the girdle and the body of the wearer of the girdle as said girdle is being shifted to an operative position, said member being transversely and longitudinally arched to conform to the contour only of that portion of said body of the wearer adjacent the hip.

2. A girdle applying device of the character described, comprising an elongated member adapted. for insertion between the girdle and the body of the wearer of the girdle, as said girdle is being shifted to an operative position, said member being transversely arched intermediate the ends thereo only to conform tothe contour of said body of the wearer adjacent the hip.

3. A girdle applying device of the character described comprising an elongated member adapted for insertion between the girdle and the body of the wearer of the girdle as said girdle is being shifted to an operative position, said" member being transversely and longitudinally arched in termediate the ends thereof to conform to the contour of said body of the wearer adjacent the hip, said transversely and longitudinally arched portion of the member merging into a relatively flat portion at each end of the member respectively.

EDWARD W. SHAFFER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,477,408 Williams Dec. 11, 1923 2,223,076 McDermott Nov. 26, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 293,586 Great Britain July 12, 192B 

